There’s much excitement among the SASSI team, as the rebrand signals the start of a new chapter in the region’s crisis support capabilities. Photo: SASSI.
From a single house and a $50 donation in 1976 to a regional powerhouse in crisis support, one of the Illawarra’s most vital lifelines is entering a new era.
After nearly 50 years of service, the Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI) is stepping into a new identity as SASSI.
“Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra was quite specific and so didn’t capture everything we do,” SASSI CEO Penny Dordoy said.
“Nobody ever referred to us as that — it was always SAHSSI, pronounced “SASSI”. So SASSI is not an acronym, but reflects the strength and resilience of the women we walk alongside.
“When a woman reaches out to SASSI, we want her to feel that she isn’t just receiving aid — she is gaining a partner in building her own stability.”
Despite the changes, the core mission remains to create pathways to long-term, stable, safe and affordable housing.
SASSI will also continue to operate the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub, a vital drop-in service providing emergency provisions and support facilities for all people in need within the Shoalhaven community.
The rebrand, however, is more than a name change — it’s a commitment to a future-focused strategy that will deliver 29 new housing units this year alone.
“We can all see what’s happening with housing. Across the country people are being outpriced and experiencing housing stress, let alone those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who often cannot afford to sustain their own tenancies,” Mr Dordoy said.
“Our ambition is to continue to find more housing for women and children at that critical time when they’re experiencing domestic violence, homelessness or housing stress. In order to recover and thrive in the community, you obviously need a roof over your head.”
The new brand identity and website are designed to lower the barriers for women seeking help. By moving away from complex “menus” of services, SASSI now offers a direct, dignified path to support, ensuring that whether a woman is on her own or with children, she is met with a safe, supported and clear way forward.
Ms Dordoy said long-term, the organisation aimed to move away from shared housing.
“It’s not going to happen this year, but that’s a big transition for us,” she said.
“For example, we have a new refuge opening in the Illawarra in July with eight individual apartments, and that means people have increased dignity and independence and can recover faster with their family all together in a home, rather than sharing with multiple residents and having new problems evolve from that setup.
“The women who walk alongside us deserve their own place to recover, with services going to support them where they are.”
The rebrand comes at a time of significant growth for the organisation.
Last year alone, the organisation supported nearly 2500 women and children and provided safe housing for more than 830 individuals. Since 2014, it has delivered close to half a million nights of safe accommodation.
“Despite us serving so many, there are still so many we haven’t been able to support, and that’s really about the housing need,” Ms Dordoy said. “We know the issue is escalating, because some of the people using our homelessness services are working and yet, they’re having to choose between paying rent and eating, or attending a specialist doctor’s appointment and so on.”
In 2026, SASSI will deliver 29 new crisis and transitional housing units across Dharawal and Yuin countries.
The facilities mean a significant boost to housing available for women and their children facing homelessness and impacted by domestic violence in the region.
“The team is really excited about our growth, because it means they have more to offer their clients, and for our staff, that’s what it’s all about,” Ms Dordoy said.
For more information, visit SASSI.
